Betting: Norwich City are 66/1 to win FA Cup for the first time

Andrew Surman and George Boyd during a friendly between Peterborough United and and Norwich City at London Road.

Friday, January 4, 2013
10:23 AM

The FA Cup offers some teams a welcome respite from the grind of league football – though it’s only a chore when they’re losing – while for others, it’s a distraction from the business of winning league titles or gaining promotion.

Then there’s a smaller, third category of Cup participants – teams who actually have a chance of winning the trophy, such as the Canaries, who travel to Peterborough tomorrow priced as Stan James’ 11/10 favourites to beat a Peterborough side mired in a relegation scrap.

Norwich are 66/1 (BetVictor.com) to lift the FA Cup for the first time in their history next May, a bet that becomes even more attractive if punters back City each way. They would get 50 per cent of the odds should they reach the final.

Of course, Norwich have won only once on the road this term, during which they’ve managed just 11 goals, so the likelihood of it finishing all square (13/5, bet365) cannot be ignored.

Skybet post 11/2 against it ending 1-1, while Ladbrokes offer a 1-0 City victory at 7/1.

However, only Bristol City have lost more home league matches than Posh, while their defence has conceded 28 goals in 13 home fixtures to date.

Elsewhere, Norwich are 12/5 (Ladbrokes) to win when kicking off with a one-goal deficit and Paddy Power make them 8/11 to open the scoring.

Not surprisingly, Norwich are 2/5 (William Hill) to qualify for the fourth round – a bet which includes a replay, if necessary – while bet365 chalk an attractive 7/2 about them winning the tie at the first attempt without conceding a goal.

Admittedly, Norwich’s away form leaves a lot to be desired, but Peterborough are 21st in the Championship and the 15/2 offered by Stan James against a 2-1 Norwich victory holds significant appeal, as does the 12/1 bet365 post in favour of a 2-0 win for the Premier League side.